It was a game of close margins. The Indiana Pacers came within breathing distance of pulling off a major upset in Game 1 against the Boston Celtics. With just 10 seconds left, they held a three-point lead. A pivotal turnover gave Boston an opportunity to equalize at home, one Jaylen Brown grabbed with both hands.

Riled up by the cheers of their fans and a wave of green, the Celtics took command of overtime. All-NBA selection Jayson Tatum raised the tempo. His buckets in overtime ended up being pivotal. But it offered hope to the Indiana side who pushed the most successful team of the NBA to the edge.

Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam, and Myles Turner stats vs Celtics

Tyrese Haliburton had his breakout season, establishing himself as a savvy playmaker. The Pacers point guard was even elected to the All-NBA third recently. Leading the Pacers to the sixth seed, the 24-year-old averaged 20.1 points and 10.9 assists this season. He led the league in assists per game. The former Kings stalwart has had 12 games against Boston in his short yet stellar career.

Hali shot the ball particularly well converting 47.1% for the season. His unconventional jump shot is misleading to the eye. He shot 38% from three, ranking him amongst the consistent shooters in the league.

Pascal Siakam underwent a major shift this season. After spending 8 seasons with the Raptors, the team that drafted him, he was traded to Indiana. There he met Haliburton, an ideal playmaker for his play style. In the partial season with the Pacers, the 2-time All-Star averaged 21.3 points and 7.8 rebounds in 41 games. The eighth-year forward has played in 25 against them having been in the Eastern Conference all his life.

Siakam has established himself as a formidable and complete inside scorer. His crafty footwork enables him to keep the pressure alive. He torched the Celtics for 23 points in the opening game of their playoff encounter. The Pacers will hope he can once again break down the Celtics from the inside.

Myles Turner has been the standout in the playoffs for the Pacers. With him looming the paint, he has swatted shots throughout the playoffs. After battling trade rumors, he played a constructive role in placing Indiana in the playoffs. As a part of the young core, his ability to spread the floor at the five adds another dimension to this supreme offense. He averaged 17.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists this season. Having battled Boston 29 times in his career, Turner has performed slightly below his averages.

Turner produced 23 points on nearly 70% shooting in Game 1. The Celtics found it difficult to tackle his inside and outside game.

Indiana Pacers stats vs Celtics

Boston was unflappable early in the season playing a healthy roster. In the first game against the Pacers, they put up 155 points, leaning on Jayson Tatum’s 30 points. They beat Indiana by 51. That was the only mutilation in their season series. Both sides shared the remaining two games of their season battles. Benedict Mathurin, who had a season-ending injury was pivotal in Indiana’s duel wins against the East kingpins. Haliburton recorded a triple-double in the second game, a contest Indiana emerged victorious in.

The Celtics still look dangerous. Lethal shooters all over the floor give them an undue advantage in scoring. Yet even with their shots, Indiana responded with equal ferocity. The series which looked outmatching at first is now viewed a lot differently. The margin of an upset, even though bleak does exist. Can the Pacers actually do it though?